A major seventh arpeggio on piano
The A major seventh arpeggio (A7M) has 4 notes: A, C♯, E, G♯ (A, C sharp, E, and G sharp), degrees 1, 3, 5, 7 of the chord. It uses 2 black keys: C♯, G♯.
- A 1
- C♯ C sharp 3
- E 5
- G♯ G sharp 7
The lit keys are the notes of the arpeggio, with the name and the degree; the root (A) has the strongest color. Tap a key to hear it; Listen plays up and down. The small dot marks middle C (C4).
Fingering
This page does not show a fingering. In piano methods the arpeggio fingering changes with the key (black keys move the thumb crossing) and with the hand, and no single rule covers every arpeggio here. Follow the one in your method book or from your teacher.
Formula
- A
- 4
- C♯
- 3
- E
- 4
- G♯
- 1
- A
Degrees: 1 · 3 · 5 · 7 (root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh). Distance between the notes: 4 – 3 – 4 – 1 semitones, counting the step back to the upper root.
About the major seventh chord
A major chord with a major seventh: smooth, sophisticated and a little nostalgic. It is the signature sound of bossa nova, jazz and soft pop, and it appears in ballads to "mellow out" the I and IV chords.
The chord and the scale
- A major seventh chord (A7M) The chord on the keyboard, with its inversions
- A major scale The scale to practice with it: it has every note of the arpeggio plus the ones in between.
Other A scales with every note of the arpeggio
More A arpeggios
- Major (A)
- Minor (Am)
- Seventh (A7)
- Major seventh (A7M)
- Minor seventh (Am7)
- Half-diminished (Am7(♭5))
- Diminished seventh (A°7)
- Augmented (A+)
The major seventh arpeggio in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the A major seventh arpeggio?
The A major seventh arpeggio (A7M) has the notes A, C sharp, E, and G sharp: degrees 1, 3, 5, 7 of the chord.
How do you play the A major seventh arpeggio on piano?
Start on A and go up through the keys A, C♯, E, G♯ to the A above; for two octaves, repeat the pattern one octave higher. It uses 2 black keys: C♯, G♯.
Which scale goes with the A major seventh arpeggio?
The A major scale, which has every note of the arpeggio. These also have all of them: A Lydian scale.